“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the
issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23
In other words it’s always “the heart of the matter.”
Where is the heart living? What scales is it using to weigh the matters of life… the temporary or the eternal…the human
or the spiritual… the sacrificial or the self-seeking?
Is the heart living in the past…? Is the past bleeding to the
canvases of the present…?
Fleeting are the moments in life yet some of us haul some moments
as stones of burden. These
experiences have seeded the fields of a person’s life and now produce wild inedible
yields. Instead of being burned
and tilled into the ground to be used as nutrients for more productive
satisfying harvests, they pile up like briar patches growing and mounding over
the previous growth. It soon
becomes so high it becomes impassible for anyone to come out or in.
On the other hand some treasure moments that will soon be forgotten. They take up space like old trophies in a display case- never
making room for what is to come.
Those who hold such things don’t seem to see the luster of those times
and achievements are gone. The
polishing days are over.
It is true… “Each heart knows its
own bitterness, and no one else can share its
joy.” Proverbs 14:10
And though there is a time for everything under heaven
(Ecclesiastes 3:1), I find we can’t live in yesterday. Yesterday can be a nice shaded step for
today…. but of course how we look and examine yesterday will determine how we
walk in today and tomorrow. We can
only pack so much in our suitcase in this trip of life.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your
own understanding: in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths
straight.” Proverbs 3:5
In all your ways submit to him… in whatever you may be going
through (no matter positive or negative) we are to submit to God. I find that
is the only way I keep my heart with all diligence. We aren’t full of the pride of life nor are we full of the
self-pity.
We are vessels… not overfilled with our plans and thoughts (which
might never take place) and no room for God’s input but vessels filled and stirred
up by God in all he created us to be in Him.
When a sculpture looks at piece of marble to carve his masterpiece
in – he doesn’t just pick any piece out of the stone yard. He takes in account all the different
characteristics of the stone.
Our creator, who formed us in our mother’s womb – knew
exactly what your talents, abilities, likes, dislikes, strengths and weaknesses
were going to be. He waited for us to turn our life over to Him so he could skillfully work on what he intended us to be in this life.... Note for that to actually happen we actually had to submit
to the sculpture’s skillful and caring hands. Yeah watch out for those novices, they may take a swing and you may end up as shattered pieces on the floor.
The sculpture speaks of the artist…
Think about Michelangelo’s sculptures… What do they speak of?
When we look at Michelangelo’s creations, we don’t see the
material it is made of but what he wanted the material to turn into.
Do we just look at the raw outer facades of people and ourselves? What does God, the Creator, the artist, see in us? What is he crafting us into? Do we allow God to glorify himself in us?
Do we just look at the raw outer facades of people and ourselves? What does God, the Creator, the artist, see in us? What is he crafting us into? Do we allow God to glorify himself in us?
Romans 8:30 says... “to those whom he justified, he also
glorified.”
We were created in the image of … who?
Yet we cannot glorify God in our life unless we give our
lives to him- DAILY!
Giving our life to God, we experience the reality of God, but
also we become more conscience of how God wants us to live. We hopefully see life in a new
way. We see what truly matters and
is lasting and take that path he planned for us to glorify him.
“God’s ways and thoughts are higher then our ways and
thoughts.” Note Isaiah 55:8-9
God wants us to become spiritually prosperous in himself -who
is eternal, unchanging and ALWAYS… unlike the rest of this world which is
temporary and leaves us chasing the wind. Rat race… rat race… rat race can’t you see that big cat of
this world chasing you?
I look at the people of God in the bible. They were called to live
sacrificial lives and in their obedience God made their way and path clear. They weren’t chasing the wind. It was abundantly clear God was with
them. Do you think this would have
happened without their submission and obedience to God?
They submitted themselves to God and in this submission had
confidence in God.
“To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the
blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but
to the devious you show yourself shrewd.” Psalm 18:25-26
How do you see God?
Jesus said "Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your
body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your
whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness,
how great is that darkness!”
Matthew 6:22-23
Is your eye pure? Do you trust in the word of God, knowing
it is pure…?
Do these words fall flat in your ears? Do you melt at
certain words? Are you humbled by certain words? Are you comforted by certain
words?
What is God to you? He is faithful even though you fail in
your faithfulness? Is he out to get you? He is for you or against you? Is he your Rock, Fortress, Shield,
Comfort, peace when there is no explanation for such wonderful things?
“Blessed are the
pure in heart, for
they will see God.” Matthew 5:8
Do we ask... "God... what do you want me to get out this
experience called life”?
You
save the humble
but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.
You, Lord, keep my lamp burning;
my God turns my darkness into light.
With your help I can advance against a troop;
with my God I can scale a wall.
but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.
You, Lord, keep my lamp burning;
my God turns my darkness into light.
With your help I can advance against a troop;
with my God I can scale a wall.
As for
God, his way is perfect:
The Lord’s word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him.
For who is God besides the Lord?
And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength
and keeps my way secure.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he causes me to stand on the heights.
He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You make your saving help my shield,
and your right hand sustains me;
your help has made me great.
You provide a broad path for my feet,
so that my ankles do not give way. Psalm 18:27-36
The Lord’s word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him.
For who is God besides the Lord?
And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength
and keeps my way secure.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he causes me to stand on the heights.
He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You make your saving help my shield,
and your right hand sustains me;
your help has made me great.
You provide a broad path for my feet,
so that my ankles do not give way. Psalm 18:27-36
This task of life is a delicate balance…. we as Christians
seem to have to keep our thoughts away from pride and ignorance on one side and
doubt and pity on the other… Yet as we walk on this balance beam of life, we
seldom realize God is right there holding our waist. He wants us to stretch out
our arms with confidence and abandonment in him and take flight. He whispers, “I have you, trust
me. Do a cartwheel or two. Jump… leap… I will show you what you
are capable of doing with me…. “
Some of us stand off stage…. waiting for our time on the stage of life not realizing we are already standing in full view of the audience of the world. The conductor of life (God) motions to us. We realize the attention we now suddenly have... The conductor says, “Watch me- not them. For I have wrote a beautiful score for your life.” He lifts his finger... and we start to sing.
Give God all you are and see what HE DOES….
Hope this blesses and encourages you this day.
